Senna siamea
Content
Description
Tree up to c. 15 m; young branches pubescent, finely striate.
Leaves with 7 — 10( — 15) pairs of leaflets; petiole 2-3 cm; rachis 10-25 cm.
Stipules tiny, subulate, caducous.
Inflorescence large, terminal panicles on a robust, 5-7 cm long peduncle; bracts obovate, long acuminate, c. 5 mm; pedicels 2-3 cm, velutinous.
Sepals orbicular, unequal, velutinous outside, the two outer c. 5 mm, the inner up to 9 mm.
Petals yellow, oblong-obovate with a short claw, 1.5-2 cm.
Stamens: 2 with filaments c. 10 mm and anthers 6-7 mm with apical dehiscence; 4-5 with filaments 2-3 mm and anthers 5-6 mm; 2-3 staminodes c. 3 mm.
Ovary densely velutinous; style glabrous; stigma inconspicuous.
Seeds 20-30, ovate, light brown 20-25 by 5-6 mm.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Cambodia (Cambodia present); Laos (Laos present); Thailand (Thailand present); Vietnam (Vietnam present), Burma present
Indigenous to Burma, Thailand and probably Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. It is widely planted throughout the tropics.
Uses
Planted as ornamental in parks, gardens and frequently used as wayside tree up to 1000 m altitude. As a rapid growing species it is also appreciated for use as shade trees and windbreak in e.g. coffee plantations. It is sometimes running wild but hardly occurs as truly naturalized. Locally used for medicinal purposes. See
Citation
K. & S.S. Larsen 1984: Fl. Thailand 4: 110: f. 27/3-4
Ho 1970: p. 824. – In: Illus. Fl. S. Vietnam, ed. 2: f. 2081
Backer & Bakh.f 1964 – In: Fl. Java: 541
Miq. 1855 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 98.
Prain 1897 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 163
Corner 1940: Wayside Trees: 390
Verdc. 1979 – In: Manual New Guinea Leg., Lae Bot. Bull.: 52
Rudd 1991 – In: Fl. Ceylon: 71.
Merr. 1910 – In: Philipp. J. Sc., Bot.: 51
DC. 1825 – In: Prodr.: 506.
K. & S.S. Larsen 1980: p. 87. – In: Fl. Camb., Laos & Vietnam: pl. 15/3-4
Merr. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 173.
Ridley 1922 – In: Fl. Malay Penins.: 617
de Wit 1956 – In: Webbia: 263